Summary of business appointment applications - Dame Judith Macgregor
Published 19 July 2017
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Dame Judith Macgregor left her post as British High Commissioner to South Africa in March 2017.
1. Non-Executive Director, Fresnillo plc
2. Board Member, Governing Council of Southampton University
Dame Judith sought advice in relation to a position as Independent Non-Executive Director of the Board of Fresnillo plc (Fresnillo), a precious metal mining company and Independent Board Member of the Governing Council of Southampton University.
When considering the application the Committee noted that the appointment with Fresnillo would be a paid role involving around 14 days’ work a year and that she did not expect it to involve contact with the UK Government. Dame Judith was approached about this position by the Chairman of Fresnillo in 2013 when she left Mexico as UK Ambassador, however, she declined the job in view of her prospective posting as High Commissioner to South Africa. Fresnillo contacted Dame Judith again in early 2017 and asked her to reconsider their offer.
When considering this application the Committee took into account that four years have passed since Dame Judith left her posting in Mexico and Dame Judith confirmed that she has had no contact with Fresnillo between leaving Mexico in 2013 and early 2017, when she was offered this appointment. The Committee was also mindful that while Dame Judith had some contact with Fresnillo while on her posting in Mexico, this contact was similar in nature to that which she had with other businesses in Mexico, in keeping with her role promoting bilateral trade and UK business and investment.
Dame Judith also sought advice on taking up an unpaid position as Independent Board Member of the Governing Council of Southampton University. The role is likely to involve approximately 14 days of work a year. Dame Judith does not expect that the appointment will include any contact with Government.
When considering both of these appointments the Committee took into account the views of the DG for Middle East and Africa, who is unaware of Dame Judith having access to any information that would provide Fresnillo or Southampton University with an unfair advantage and has no concerns with Dame Judith taking up these appointments.
The Foreign Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that these appointments be subject to the following conditions:
- she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time in Crown service;
- for two years from her last day in Crown service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Fresnillo plc, its subsidiaries or Southampton University. Nor should she make use, directly or indirectly, of her contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure business on behalf of Fresnillo, its subsidiaries or Southampton University; and
- for six months from her last day in post, she should not return to South Africa for business purposes, give advice on matters relating to South Africa or have dealings with companies there.
The letter containing the final decision was sent in April 2017. The appointment with taken up in May 2017 and the appointment with Southampton University was taken up in July 2017.